ASPecT
17.2Here are two examples, one with an action verb, one with an adjectival verb, that include both
the durative suffix 着/著 zhe and the progressive marker 在 zài. In this first example with the
open-ended action verb 开/開 kāi ‘drive,’ the suffix 着/著 zhe is acceptable with or without
the second clause 不能打电话/不能打電話 bù néng dǎ diànhuà ‘(one) can’t make a phone
call.’ But the use of 在 zài is only acceptable when the second clause occurs.我在开着车呢，不能打电话。
我在開著車呢，不能打電話。
Wǒ zài kāizhe chē ne, bù néng dǎ diànhuà.
I am driving right now and can’t make a phone call.
With or without the second clause, 开/開 kāi ‘drive,’ has duration. But only with the inclusion
of the second clause does the situation involve a progression, in this case from driving to driv-
ing while making a phone call.The following sentence, with the adjectival verb 热/熱 rè ‘be hot,’ is acceptable with or with-
out 在 zài. Without 在 zài it means that the soup is in the state of being hot. With the inclusion
of 在 zài the sentence means that the soup is ‘becoming hot’ or is ‘being heated.’ In other
words, 在 zài adds a sense of progression to the action.
汤在热着呢。
湯在熱著呢。
Tāng zài rèzhe ne.
The soup is being heated.17.2.4 duration of a background event
The durative aspect marker 着/著 zhe is commonly used in complex sentences to indicate that
an action is ongoing in the background while some other action occurs. This kind of sentence
takes the following form.subject verb 1 - 着/著 zhe (object 1 ), verb 2 (object 2 )
她听着音乐做作业。
她聽著音樂做作業。
Tā tīngzhe yīnyuè zuò zuòyè.
She is doing homework while listening to music. (background action: listening to music)他们走着路谈话。
他們走著路談話。
Tāmen zǒuzhe lù tán huà.
They’re chatting while walking. (background action: walking)
她坐着睡觉。
她坐著睡覺。
Tā zuòzhe shuì jiào.
She’s sleeping sitting down. (background action: sitting)别吃着东西开车。
別吃着東西開車。
Bié chīzhe dōngxi kāi chē.
Don’t eat while you are driving. (background action: eating)Progressive aspect cannot be used in sentences like these.
C10, 13, 38, 43.2, 43.3